Martin holds on for sprint tour win at New Humberstone
Annual Gabe Bellante Memorial for the Sportsman on tap for this weekend
Liam Martin from Binbrook won his second Action Sprint Tour A-Main as Verge Insurance presented the racing action at the New Humberstone Speedway Sunday night.
Greg Panunte from Port Colborne, Ont., survived several cautions to score his second Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman feature of the season.
Billy Bleich Jr. from Port Robinson won his third JC Auto Thunderstock feature of the season. Craig Vlasic from Welland won his fifth Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stocks feature of the season. Mitch Dumont from Welland scored his third Airhardt Deliveries Pro 4 Trucks feature. Teddy Sheppard won the Enduro and, with the win, secured the pole position in the Eve of Destruction.
The Action Sprint Tour presented by RaceRivalz.com was brought to the green flag for Round 8 by Steven Beckett and Martin with Martin showing the way.
Josh Hansen moved into second and would start to go after race leader Martin. The leaders hit lap traffic on lap eight as Hansen would start to close in on Martin. Jacob Dykstra spun in Turn 3 to bring out the race’s first caution on lap 10 after losing a right front tire. Dykstra rejoined the field after repairs were made. On the restart, Martin, Hansen and Beckett pulled away from the rest of the field. A late race restart bunched the field up and Martin held off Hansen to score his second series win of the season.
Round 9 will take place Saturday at Brighton Speedway with the championship being decided at Ohsweken Speedway as part of the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.
Dylan Davidson and Brad Rouse brought the Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman to the green with Rouse taking the lead. Greg Panunte took over second from Davidson. Rouse continued to show the way for several cir
cuits until Greg Panunte used a mid-race restart to take the lead away. Several drivers would suffer setbacks in the 25-lap feature go, including Adam Leslie who hit the front stretch wall. Panunte held off Rouse to score his second win of the season. Dylan Davidson, who crossed the line in third place, was found to be light at the scales post-race.
Barry Beck Jr. and Go Fast Teeple brought the JC Auto Thunderstocks to the green flag, with Beck showing the way. Billy Bleich Jr. took the lead away from Beck on Lap 7 and would start to pull away from the field. After a spin on Lap 12 bunched the field up, Bleich regained the advantage over Fontaine and Dave Bailey. Bleich scored the feature win.
Evan Curtis and Craig Vlasic were on the front row for the Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stocks feature, with Mike Sarantakos taking the lead at the end of Lap 1. Vlasic took the lead away on Lap 2. After a trio of cautions slowed the field down, Vlasic pulled away with Evan Curtis and Leroy Buscumb battling for second place. Vlasic went on to score the feature win, his fifth of the season.
Brian Aube and Mitch Dumont were on the front row for the Airhardt Delivery Pro 4 Trucks feature event with Dumont showing the way. Justin Towers, Danny Wurster and Dylan Llord came together on the back straightaway to bring out the race’s first caution. On the restart, Dumont pulled away from Frank Perry. After a Lap 6 caution, Perry took the lead but Dumont regained the lead just one lap later. Dumont went on to score the win, his third of the season.
NEWS AND NOTES: 87 cars signed in pitside for the racing program … On Sunday, Rick’s Delivery and CAA Niagara will present the annual Gabe Bellante Memorial for the Sportsman plus a full Epic Racewear Weekly Racing Series program of Late Models, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks and Pro 4 Trucks. Gates will swing open at 4 p.m. and showtime is at 6:30 p.m. All kids in attendance can check out the activities with the Humbee’s Kids Club presented by the Port Colborne Dairy Queen at 5 p.m. each race night.
Race results: Werge Insurance Night
Action Sprint Tour: Liam Martin, Josh Hansen, Steven
Beckett, Jesse McDonald, Jordan Hill, Brad Herron, Paul Klager, Allan Downey, Darren Dryden, Jacob Dykstra, Brian Nanticoke, Blaine Barrow, Noelle Teal, Jerry Hill, Tyler Ward, Johnny Miller, Spencer Davis, Trevor Young, Al Gilletta Jr, Ryan Hunsinger Did Not Start: Dave McKnight Jr.
Qualifying Heats: Jacob Dykstra, Liam Martin, Jesse McDonald
Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman: Greg Panunte, Brad Rouse, Rob Sauder, Jay Mallory, Matt Sharpe, Emily Puchalski, Lee Mallory, Tyler Puchalski, Luke Carleton, Adam Leslie, Jordan Cosco, Dylan Davidson
Qualifying Heats: Dylan Davidson, Brad Rouse
JC Auto Thunderstocks: Billy Bleich Jr., Jason Fontaine, Dave Bailey, Barry Beck Jr., Donny Lampman, Dave Small, Jim Lampman, Barry Blanchard, Jeff Larmet, Go Fast Teeple, John Overholt, Jeff Bean, Zack Bleich, Kevin Kocarik
Qualifying Heats: Dave Bailey, Jason Fontaine
Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stocks: Craig Vlasic, Evan Curtis, Leroy Buscumb, Jay Moulton, Mike Sarantakos, Olivier Larocque, Kurtis Wiley, Sam Iftody, Dan McKay, Kourtney Kocarik, David Hoyle, Tim Jamieson, Cole Hardy, Paul Longboat, John Lubeck (disqualified)
Qualifying Heats: Craig Vlasic, Jay Moulton
Airhardt Deliveries Pro 4 Trucks: Mitch Dumont, Frank Perry, Brian Aube, Jamie Ayers, Jay Dupuis, Doug Crawford, Clinton Barrick, William Wilson, Danny Wurster, Dylan Llord, Justin Towers
Qualifying Heats: Brian Aube, Mitch Dumont